more stats
1,421 ft
Distance
-99 ft
Descent
00:01:32
Avg time
-99 ft
Altitude change
10,464 ft
Altitude min
10,563 ft
Altitude max
10,563 ft
Altitude start
10,463 ft
Altitude end
-7%
Grade
-17.1%
Grade max
-1.2%
Grade min
1,421 ft
Distance down
00:01:32
Avg time

Buried Cable Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Sandia Mountain East Side Trails
    Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Ref Number
    #272
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Local Popularity
    55 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 50 in Trail Running
    • 60 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Global Ranking
    #126569 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #150223 in Trail Running
    • #30909 in Hiking
    • #28755 in Horseback
  • State Ranking
    #1,046 in Mountain Biking · New Mexico [+]
    • #1,176 in Trail Running
    • #336 in Hiking
    • #713 in Horseback
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
  • Land Owner
    USFS - Sandia Ranger District

Buried Cable is a shortcut off Switchback. It is steep and rooty, and can be tricky. It is a good option when descending in a hurry, but Switchback is usually the preferred option.

Tags
Rooty

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
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6 Months
  • 0 rides
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All
  • 121 rides
  • Last: Apr 29, 2026
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Buried Cable Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
May 6, 2026 @ 8:42am (America/Denver)
May 6, 2026
reporter Area Closure for Sandia Crest “Switchback” Hazard Tree and Fuel Reduction Project. See...
May 28, 2024 @ 1:59am
May 28, 2024
Jul 10, 2022 @ 8:13am
Jul 10, 2022
Jun 26, 2022 @ 11:26am
Jun 26, 2022
Fire Restrictions Lifted
Apr 29, 2022 @ 1:05pm
Apr 29, 2022
Still very snowy. Not ready for riding.
more »
Status:
on May 6, 2026
Dry
Avg: 3.98 (2 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to buried-cable trailhead (35.210030, -106.447610)

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      Routes with this trail

      ★ 5.0 • 22 miles • 3,710 ft • 33 • Loop •
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      ★ 3.0 • 3 miles • 389 ft • 2 •
      Informal race loop in the Sandias
      3.5 ★★★★★
      2 Ratings
      5 ★
      4 ★ 50%
      3 ★ 50%
      2 ★
      1 ★

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      • #266536 - 990 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Buried Cable located?
      Buried Cable is located in Sandia Mountain East Side Trails, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Sandia Mountain East Side Trails trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 35.21003, -106.44761.
      ▼ How hard is Buried Cable?
      Buried Cable is rated as Blue difficulty. The average grade is 7%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Buried Cable?
      The trail has 99 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 10,464 ft to 10,563 ft.
      ▼ Is Buried Cable a point to point trail?
      Buried Cable is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Buried Cable?
      Buried Cable is 1,421 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Buried Cable?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Buried Cable. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Buried Cable?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Buried Cable are:
      • August (12 activities)
      • September (12 activities)
      • July (11 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Buried Cable? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Buried Cable are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Buried Cable?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 2 minutes to ride Buried Cable. The trail is 1,421 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Buried Cable?
      Buried Cable is a moderately popular trail. There have been 868 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 900 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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